Brewers beat Mets, Wiemer hits 2-run homer
Joey Wiemer #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates his sixth inning two run home run with teammate Jesse Winker #33 as Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets looks on at Citi Field on June 26, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty I
MILWAUKEE - Joey Wiemer hit a go-ahead, two-run homer to straightaway centerfield in the sixth inning, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 2-1 victory on Monday night that dropped the struggling New York Mets a season-worst eight games under .500.
Wiemer’s 422-drive off Drew Smith (3-3) hit off the black fence surrounding the Mets’ celebratory home run apple and rolled about 50 feet away from centerfielder Brandon Nimmo.
Despite a major league record $355 million payroll on opening day, New York (35-43) has lost seven of nine and is 6-15 since completing a three-game sweep of Philadelphia on June 1 — the Mets' most recent series win. They trail NL East-leading Atlanta by 16 games and are eight games under .500 for the first time since ending the 2021 season at 77-85.
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Colin Rea (4-4) retired his first eight batters and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. Hoby Milner (four outs), Elvis Peguero (one) and Devon Williams (three) completed a three-hitter. Williams got his 14th save in 15 chances as the Brewers retired the final 11 Mets in order.
Milwaukee (41-37) began the night a half-game behind first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central. The Brewers stranded eight runners before Wiemer’s homer and left 11 on base, two shy of their season-high.
Smith (3-3), made his first appearance after a 10-game suspension for a banned sticky substance on his hand prior to entering against the Yankees on June 13.
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Mets starter Justin Verlander gave up five hits and struck out five in five scoreless but laborious innings. Verlander, who threw 100 pitches, was assessed a pitch clock violation starting the third inning after throwing a warmup pitch with 27 seconds left on the clock.
Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth.